Water-key for musical instruments.



W. W. ALLEN.

WATER KEY FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION 111mm FEB. 4, 1909.

942,429. Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

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WILLIAM VT. ALLEN,

WATER-KEY FOR or connnnn,

ILLINOIS.

MUSZCAi-L INSTRUMEELYTS.

Application filed February 4, 1909.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. '7, 1909.

Serial no. 476,007.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM V. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cornell, in the county of Livingston and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ater-Keys for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to musical instruments and has special reference to that class of instruments which are known as wind instruments.

The invention has for an object the formation of an improved water *alve in connection with the same by means of which the moisture collected in the tube of the instrumentmay be released from the same.

The invention has for another object the provision of an absorber in connection with instruments of this character by means of which the moisture collected in the tubes is removed to prevent the instrument from changing in pitch during the playing of long passages during which time it is impossible for the performer to open the water valve.

The invention further designs an attachment to a wind instrument which will prevent the water emitted from the vent in the tube from being sprayed against the adjacent tubes of the instrument and collecting on the outer faces thereof, thereby tarnishing or corroding the same which impairs the appearance of the instrument.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation disclosing a fragmentary view of a wind instrument having the improved water key allixcd thereto. Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view of the key showing a fragmentary view of the vent of a wind instrument. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the improved key, the operating lever being broken away. Fig. l discloses a modified securing means for the key upon the vent of the wind instrument.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in al the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings the numeral designates the slide of a wind instrument which is employed intuning the same and which comprises a metallic tube which is bent into li-formation and inserted within the open extremities of parallel tubes upon the instrumci'it. The slide 10 is provided in the usual manner with a vent 11 which is projected outwardly therefrom and through which the moisture collcc ed within the slide 10 is ejected. The slide 10 is also provided with cars 12 which extend outwardly therefrom and are spaced a short distance from the vent 11 to support av lever 13 which is intermediately fulcrumed between the cars 12. A spring 1 is employed which is dis posed between the slide' 10 and lever 13 for the purpose of normally retaining the outer extremity of the lever 13 in an outward position. 'lhe inner extremity of the lever 18 is provided with a closure 15 which carries an inwardly extended annular flange 16 which is adapted for engagement about the outer extremity of the vent 11 when the closure 15 is brought into engagement therewith. 'lhe closure 15 is provided at its outer end with metallic strip 1? which is socured upon the outer face of the cap adjacent the levcr 13, the strip 17 l eing curved circularly upon itself at its outer extremity to support a pintle 18 upon which is hingedly disposed a bar 19. The bar 19 is extended diametrically across the outer open end of the closure 15 and is provided with an inwardly curved flange 20 for engagement beneath a lip 21 formed upon the outer extremity of a leaf spring 22 disposed upon the outer face of the closure 15 at a point diametrically opposite from the metallic strip 17. The leaf spring is curved outwardly at its upper extremity and is adapted for engagement against the flange 20. the bar 1;) is provided wth a spring which is disposed about the pintle l8 and engaged at its opposite extremities agains the inner face of the bar 1%) and inner wall of the closure 15. T he spring 23 is employed for the purpose of normally holding the bar 1.3 in an outward position. The closure 15 is pro vided with a quantity of absorbent material which may be cotton or the like and whica is detachably disposed in the same for the ready removal thereof when the same is thoroughly saturated with the moisture col ccted in the slide 10 and passed through the vent 11.

In the modification disclosed in the drawings the vent 25 is provided with threaded outer portion which is adapted to receive a flange 26 carried upon the inner end of the closure 27. The flange 26 is provided about its inner edge with a threaded portion which is adapted for engagement with the threaded portion of the vent to secure the closure 27 in positior.

The operation oi the device is as follows: is the instrument is employed. the moisture collects ivithin the slide 10 and passes through the vent. 11 into the absorbent material where it is retained and prevented from accunnilating within the slide 10. The cap 15 is fitted closely against the vent 11 by means of the spring 1% through the medium of the lever 13 tor the purpose or preventing the escape of air from the tubes of the instrument and for preventing the escape or any moisture which is passed from the vent 11 into the closure 15. It is seen from this construction that a considerable amount of moisture can be collected within the closure 15 by means of the absorbent i'i'iaterial before the tone or pitch of the instrument will be impaired by the collection of such moisture within the slide 10. With the employment of this device the performer is enabled to play long passages of music without the disadvantage of having the instimnent produce a broken tone, which is caused by the accumulation of inter or moisture vithin the tubes, the device enabling the performer to continue through such passages without the necessity of opening the vent 11 to eject such moisture. The absorbent material may be Withdrawn from the closure 15 for the purpose of renewing the same oy releasing the tlange 20 of the bar 13 by pressing the leaf spring 22 nwardly at its upper er;- tremity when the spring 23 will force the bar 19 in an outward position and admit of the withdra oi the absorbent In the modification the closure 2? is secured upon the vent 25 by threaded enga ment therewith and is remo ed th refrom by the rotation of the same for the purpose of renewing the absorbent which is placed thereii In a device oi this nature and construction it is readily seen the closure i'iay be positioned upon any portion of a wind instrument within which the moisture is adapted to collect.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed as new is 1. A. device of the class described comprising a tube, a vent formed in aid tube, a lover pivotally disposed upon said tube adjacent the ent formed therein, a closure carried upon the inner extremity of said lever for engagement aoout the vent, said closure having an outer open end a spring disposed between the tube and said lever tor holding sail closure about said vent, an absorbent material disposed in said closure, a bar hingedly connected at one side of said clo sure and extended diainetrically across the open outer end thereof and a leaf spring disposed on. said closure for engagement with said bar to hold the same in a closed position.

2. i; device of the class described comprising a wind instrument, a tube on said instrunient, a vent formed in Sand tul e v a closure adapted for engagement over said vent, a tlange inwardly eI-dended 'lironi the inner end of said closure for engagement about said vent, an absoroent material positioncd in said closure, a. ba 1 pivotally disposed across the outer end of said :losure for retaining said absorliient material in position and means for securing said closure against said vent.

A wind instrument provided with a tube having a vent formed therein in comlination with a closure detachably positioned over the vent on said tube, an ah-- sorbent disposed in said closure and means carried by said closure for remo ably retaining said absorbent therein.

in combination with a wind instrument provided with a tube having a formed therein of a string zuztuated lever mounted on said tube adjacent said vent, a. closure carried by said lever having the inner end thereot reduced to engage said vent, an absorbent engaged in said closure llltl a bar dctachahly engaged over the outer end of said closure for retaining said absm'bent in position.

i i wine, instrument provided with a tube having a vent former therein in combination with a spring-actuated lever tulcrumed in juxtaposition to .aid vent, a clo sure disposed on said lWW, a. tlange inwardly extended from the inner edge of raid closure "tor engagement about said vent, a air hingedly disposed at one side of said closure at the outer edge of the san e, an inwardly curv d tiange formed upon the tree extremity of said bar, a eat spring carried l of said closure, a lip to engage said u pen the opposite sine 1110 on said le: 3t spri detachabl retained C in testimony ivhereol i iii'llfi niv signature d and an absorbent l two witnesses.

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